Chapter 7 Continued:

The dawn of a new day brought the blazing, morning sun down onto Madame Winsdor's bordello. In the early morning, the mansion was nearly deserted. Everyone in their party had already adjourned downstairs in the front yard. Darien had informed the ladies that Lady Beryl and her companion, Chorn would be joining them for a short distance of their journey. Lady Beryl and her companion would separate from their group before they reached the base of Mount Everrest.

Serena's body had stiffened slightly at the mention of Lady Beryl joining them. She had noticed a slight dislike from Darien as he mentioned Chorn's name. Was he jealous of Chorn, she wondered? He had not disclosed anymore information on Lady Beryl and his past relationship after their argument the night before.

Serena noticed her usually chipper friend, Mina was quiet. Mina's eyes sought out Malachite, when he was not watching her. Malachite on the other hand, was busy whistling a lively tune as he readied their mounts. He winked at Mina, causing her to blush and look down at her boots. Serena heightened her blanket of powers to gauge what was going between the two of them. Remnants of an intimate encounter between the couple came back to her.

'Serena, my shields are useless outside of Madame's establishment! Do not use your powers, again!' Darien telepathed to her loudly as he was somewhere in the mansion, causing her to jump.

'You arrogant---!' She telepathed back to him, her brow lowered and her face fierce.

'I know, I know--son of a bitch!' His telepathic laugh interrupted her spluttering.

"Well, if it's not Darien's sweet, little bride." Lady Beryl interrupted Serena and Darien's telepathic conversation, that she had no idea was presently going on. Serena effectively blocked Darien's telepathic ears from the conversation that was beginning to take place. She pasted on a polite smile on her face before she turned around to greet the woman.

"Lady Beryl," Serena inclined her head to the lady. She could see Mina in the background toggle her nose upwards indicating Lady Beryl's hauntiness. Serena resisted the urge to giggle at Mina's pranks. "a pleasure to meet you." She finished. Inward, she was shuddering.

"Yes." Was all Lady Beryl said, her green eyes not missing every detail of Serena's lovely appearance. She was dressed in a dark, velvet navy riding habit. The coat was elegant and the lines of the seams stitched clean. Her breeches were a caramel beige, matching the rest of her outfit. Finishing the touch of her outfit with tall, shiny black boots. A small, perky hat perched on her neatly coifed hair, topping off her ensemble.

Likewise, Lady Beryl was every bit as elegant in a hunter green riding dress. Small, pointed black boots peek out from under her dress. Her auburn hair was done in a thick braid down her back. "Well, I see Darien has informed you of Chorn and I accompanying your party." Lady Beryl said, her red, painted lips smiling. Yet, her eyes remained hard as she continued to gaze at Serena.

"Yes, he has." Serena replied back, nodding her head slightly.

"And has he informed you of our relationship, too, Lady Serenity?" Lady Beryl's narrowed eyes gleamed at her.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Lady Beryl." Serena politely smiled back, her eyes innocently blinking back. Here it is, she thought. Now the truth comes out.

"Why, Darien and I are lovers! He loves me very much!" Lady Beryl said, smugly.

Serena could feel each word hit her heart like a cutting knife, slicing her insides out. She felt as if she was suffocating from the pain. She wanted to shut her eyes from the image of her Darien entwined in a passionate embrace with this woman.

"Both of his parents aspired for far more than my measly title and coffers. Hence, you!" She said to Serena's stony face. "I'm so sorry if I hurt you with that revelation, dear." Of course, there wasn't a sorry bone in her body. "And if you must know, Darien has a preference for new women and new challenges. You are very lovely. Soon he will grow bored with you, once the novice has worn off. But, he has always come back to me in the end. As he will surely do with you." Lady Beryl finished, smiling again as she snapped on her matching green gloves.

"I hardly think so, Lady Beryl." Serena said, maintaining her icy politeness, even though she felt like crawling underneath a rock. Two could play at this game, she thought. I may be naive, but not stupid, she thought again. "He will never return to you." At Lady Beryl's smiling arched eyebrows, she continued. "Darien is thrilled with prospect of becoming a father, in case he's forgotten to tell you the news." Serena trilled, this time with the upper hand.

Lady Beryl's mouth snapped shut with anger and her eyes narrowed with hate. So, the stupid chit thinks to get the better hand of me, does she? We'll see about that! Damn you, Darien! I thought you still cared for me, she thought angrily. How could you do this to me? If it is the last thing I do, I will get you back, Darien! If I can't have you, then no one else shall!

For the first time that morning, Serena felt a genuine smile spread across her face as she spotted Darien emerge from the mansion to join them in the front yard. Madame Winsdor and Chorn accompanied him. You sir, Serena's gaze directed on her husband, have some explaining to do. She wondered how many other women were part of his past. Were they lurking around the corner, ready to pop out of the blue claiming his love?

Malachite assisted Mina onto her mount, still whistling happily. His eyes would tenderly touch her face when she wasn't watching him. Mina's demure was still quiet around him, while he whistled and spoke lively of the night before.

Serena felt the Darien's light touch on the small of her back as he assisted onto her mount. Her body tingled again from his touch, but her thoughts were jumbled as questions rolled around in her mind. Questions from her recent, enlightening conversation with Lady Beryl. She caught Darien's discerning gaze and refused to look at him. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. For she finally understood what she had been hiding from. For a good reason, too. There was that possibility that Darien was in love with someone else. As she was in love with him.

 

 

That's it for now. Stay tuned for chapter 8. Drop me an Email and let me know what you think! Thanks...Lady M. Harris